Seating Arrangements

26 students. 26 desks. Endless possibilities for seating arrangements. How can we make just ONE decision when deciding seat placements for our students?

First:

Check IEPs, 504 Plans, and medical records for students who need preferential seating. Students who have visual or auditory issues will need to be seated closest to the front of the room.

Second:

After you get a feel for your students' behaviors, move students who struggle with attention towards the front of the classroom. Another option for these students is seating them on the outside of your desk cluster. If they are enclosed and near other students they may be easily distracted. Allow them to have easy access to get up and move if they need to.

Third and Fourth:

Mix boys and girls as evenly as possibly. I like to alternate their placement so they are mixed as much as possible. This allows them to interact and collaborate with students they may not play with otherwise.

I also like to mix students to work with people they have not worked with before. It is important that students step out of their comfort zone and share ideas with new peers. Working with friends is great (and give your students these opportunities,) but open their minds to new peers. This is very beneficial for them!Fifth:When students don't get along or work well with another student, I sometimes purposely place them next to one another. This varies per situation. Why? In life we sometimes have to work with people that just aren't our cup of tea. Teaching and guiding students to work out their problems with their peers is a lifelong lesson! Children need to learn to work well with others, and that includes everyone. This strategy does not always work, but I have been successful with it time after time.
Sixth: Teach on!!